IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/acceur/v6y2009i2p231-270.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Accounting Harmonization and Compliance in Applying IASB Standards: An Empirical Survey about the First Time Adoption of IAS 7 by Italian Listed Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandro Mechelli

Abstract

This paper deals with the First Time Adoption (FTA) of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) standards by Italian entities, focusing on the cash flow statement (CFS) whose rules are stated by International Accounting Standards 7 (IAS 7). The purpose of this paper is to investigate both the degree of harmonization and compliance in applying IAS 7. To achieve this purpose, the research has been developed by analyzing a sample of 101 financial statements of Italian listed groups issued with reference to 2005. The results of this research show a high degree of heterogeneity in applying IASB standards and a high degree of noncompliance with IAS 7 by Italian groups. The high degree of heterogeneity could impair the comparability of financial statements across entities, requiring further efforts by IASB to reduce options permitted in its standards. The high degree of noncompliance creates the risk of misleading users who read audited financial statements thinking they are prepared according to IASB standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Mechelli, 2009. "Accounting Harmonization and Compliance in Applying IASB Standards: An Empirical Survey about the First Time Adoption of IAS 7 by Italian Listed Groups," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(2), pages 231-270, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acceur:v:6:y:2009:i:2:p:231-270
    DOI: 10.1080/17449480903172077
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/17449480903172077
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/17449480903172077?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pascale Delvaille & Gabi Ebbers & Chiara Saccon, 2005. "International Financial Reporting Convergence: Evidence from Three Continental European Countries," Post-Print halshs-00280474, HAL.
    2. Sally Aisbitt, 2001. "Measurement of harmony of financial reporting within and between countries: the case of the Nordic countries," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 51-72.
    3. Joos, P & Lang, M, 1994. "The Effects Of Accounting Diversity - Evidence From The European-Union," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32, pages 141-168.
    4. T. Colwyn Jones & Robert Luther, 2005. "Anticipating the Impact of IFRS on the Management of German Manufacturing Companies: Some Observations from a British Perspective," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 165-193, January.
    5. Pascale Delvaille & Gabi Ebbers & Chiara Saccon, 2005. "International Financial Reporting Convergence: Evidence from Three Continental European Countries," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 137-164, January.
    6. Gray, Sj, 1980. "The Impact Of International Accounting Differences From A Security-Analysis Perspective - Some European Evidence," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 64-76.
    7. Katherine Schipper, 2005. "The introduction of International Accounting Standards in Europe: Implications for international convergence," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 101-126.
    8. Gopal V. Krishnan & James A. Largay III, 2000. "The Predictive Ability of Direct Method Cash Flow Information," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1&2), pages 215-245.
    9. Hertenstein, Julie H. & Mckinnon, Sharon M., 1997. "Solving the puzzle of the cash flow statement," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 69-76.
    10. Mary Tokar**, 2005. "Convergence and the Implementation of a Single Set of Global Standards: The Real-life Challenge," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 47-68, January.
    11. Hugo Nurnberg, 2006. "The distorting effects of acquisitions and dispositions on net operating cash flow," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 209-226, September.
    12. Gopal V. Krishnan & James A. Largay III, 2000. "The Predictive Ability of Direct Method Cash Flow Information," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1‐2), pages 215-245, January.
    13. Kwok, Helen, 2002. "The effect of cash flow statement format on lenders' decisions," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 347-362.
    14. Harrison, Graeme L. & McKinnon, Jill L., 1986. "Culture and accounting change: A new perspective on corporate reporting regulation and accounting policy formulation," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 233-252, May.
    15. Spiller, Ea & Virgil, Rl, 1974. "Effectiveness Of Apb Opinion No 19 In Improving Funds Reporting," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 112-142.
    16. Wallace, R. S. Olusegun & Choudhury, Mohammed S. I. & Pendlebury, Maurice, 1997. "Cash flow statements: An international comparison of regulatory positions," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 1-22.
    17. Asheq Rahman & Hector Perera & Siva Ganesh, 2002. "Accounting Practice Harmony, Accounting Regulation and Firm Characteristics," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 38(1), pages 46-77, February.
    18. Street, Donna L. & Gray, Sidney J. & Bryant, Stephanie M., 1999. "Acceptance and Observance of International Accounting Standards: An Empirical Study of Companies Claiming to Comply with IASs," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 11-48.
    19. Wallace, R. S. Olusegun & Choudhury, Mohammed S. I. & Adhikari, Ajay, 1999. "The Comprehensiveness of Cash Flow Reporting in the United Kingdom: Some Characteristics and Firm-specific Determinants," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 311-347, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vincenzo Sforza, 2014. "Dialogue with standard setters," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(2-3-4), pages 141-154.
    2. Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon, 2018. "Accounting Choice under IFRS: The Role of Accounting Tradition and Managerial Opportunism," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 209-223, July.
    3. katia Corsi & Daniela Mancini, 2015. "Regulatory compliance of financial control systems and its implications for accountants. Some evidence from Italian experience," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(3), pages 65-91.
    4. Milana Otrusinová & Eva Hýblová, 2013. "International harmonization of accounting demands a new approach to accounting education," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 427-435.
    5. Frederic Demerens & Pascale Delvaille & Anne Le Manh & Jean-Louis Paré, 2017. "Segment Information: What Do European Small and Mid-Caps Disclose?," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(11), pages 42-57, November.
    6. Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon, 2014. "Accounting Tradition and other drivers of the Fair Value choice: An Opportunistic Management perspective," Working Papers 13, Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.
    7. David Alexander & Pascale Delvaille & Frédéric Demerens & Anne Le Mahn & Jean-Louis Paré, 2013. "L'Information Sectorielle Publiee Par Les Entreprises : Le Cas Des Eti Segment Information Disclosed By Firms: The Case Of Intermediate-Size European Listed Companies," Post-Print hal-00999030, HAL.
    8. Alessandro Mechelli & Riccardo Cimini, 2014. "Is Comprehensive Income Value Relevant and Does Location Matter? A European Study," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 59-87, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:dau:papers:123456789/2091 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Salma Damak-Ayadi, 2007. "De L'Efficacite Des Mesures De Convergence Pour Preparer Le Passage Aux Ias/Ifrs En France," Post-Print halshs-00544879, HAL.
    3. Jones, Stewart & Finley, Aimee, 2011. "Have IFRS made a difference to intra-country financial reporting diversity?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 22-38.
    4. Pekdemir, Recep & Kepce Yonet, Nazli, 2010. "Exploratory Evidence for the Adoption of the Ias 7 in Turkey," MPRA Paper 29993, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Gabriele Guggiola, 2010. "IFRS Adoption in the E.U., accounting harmonization and market efficiency: a review," Economics and Quantitative Methods qf1002, Department of Economics, University of Insubria.
    6. Günther, Nina & Gegenfurtner, Bernhard & Kaserer, Christoph & Achleitner, Ann-Kristin, 2009. "International financial reporting standards and earnings Quality: the myth of voluntary vs. mandatory adoption," CEFS Working Paper Series 2009-09, Technische Universität München (TUM), Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies (CEFS).
    7. Patricia Teixeira Lopes & Rui Couto Viana, 2008. "The transition to IFRS: disclosures by Portuguese listed companies," FEP Working Papers 285, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    8. Hammermeister, Jan H. & Zimmermann, Jochen, 2010. "Financial reporting demands in a globalised world: The harmonisation of accounting rules," TranState Working Papers 125, University of Bremen, Collaborative Research Center 597: Transformations of the State.
    9. Jiří Strouhal & Marie Paseková & Libuše Müllerová, 2011. "Comparative Analysis of Czech Accounting with International Regulation from SMEs Perspective," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2011(1), pages 39-59.
    10. Ernstberger, Jürgen & Vogler, Oliver, 2008. "Analyzing the German accounting triad -- "Accounting Premium" for IAS/IFRS and U.S. GAAP vis-à-vis German GAAP?," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 339-386, December.
    11. Corinne Bessieux-Ollier & Marie Chavent & Vanessa Kuentz & Élisabeth Walliser, 2010. "L'adoption en France des normes IFRS relatives aux incorporels : bouleversement des pratiques ou inertie ?," Post-Print halshs-00526410, HAL.
    12. Nobes, Christopher & Stadler, Christian, 2013. "How arbitrary are international accounting classifications? Lessons from centuries of classifying in many disciplines, and experiments with IFRS data," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 573-595.
    13. Devalle, Alain & Rizzato, Fabio & Busso, Donatella, 2016. "Disclosure indexes and compliance with mandatory disclosure—The case of intangible assets in the Italian market," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 8-25.
    14. Walid Guermazi, 2023. "International financial reporting standards adoption in the European Union and earnings conservatism: a review of empirical research," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(2), pages 200-211, June.
    15. Cristina Silvia Nistor & Cristina Alexandrina Stefanescu, 2012. "Public vs. Banking Sector Accounting - How Far Is Romania from International Referential?," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 3(3), pages 86-100, June.
    16. Albu, Cătălin Nicolae & Albu, Nadia & Alexander, David, 2014. "When global accounting standards meet the local context—Insights from an emerging economy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(6), pages 489-510.
    17. Raf Orens & Ann Jorissen & Nadine Lybaert & Leo Van Der Tas, 2011. "Corporate Lobbying in Private Accounting Standard Setting: Does the IASB have to Reckon with National Differences?," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 211-234.
    18. José Ramón Sánchez-Serrano & David Alaminos & Francisco García-Lagos & Angela M. Callejón-Gil, 2020. "Predicting Audit Opinion in Consolidated Financial Statements with Artificial Neural Networks," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-14, August.
    19. Nadia Albu & Catalin Nicolae Albu & Madalina Dumitru & Valentin Florentin Dumitru, 2013. "Plurality or convergence in sustainability reporting standards?," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 15(Special 7), pages 729-742, November.
    20. Hirsch, Julia & Walz, Uwe, 2019. "The financing dynamics of newly founded firms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 261-272.
    21. Divesh Sharma & Errol Iselin, 2003. "The decision usefulness of reported cash flow and accrual information in a behavioural field experiment," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 123-135.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:acceur:v:6:y:2009:i:2:p:231-270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/RAIE20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.